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/ 17 December 2005

Peace, democracy at stake in DRC referendum

Congolese must cast ballots if the Democratic Republic of Congo is to put years of violence behind it, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said through a spokesperson on Friday. ”For the democratic process to succeed, it is essential that the Congolese people play their full part,” Annan’s spokesperson said.

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/ 17 December 2005

US jet evacuated after passenger says the ‘B’ word

A Southwest Airlines jet was evacuated at an airport in the Los Angeles region on Friday after a passenger was reportedly heard to say the word ”bomb”, prompting a security alert, authorities said. The Southwest flight had been taxiing to takeoff at Bob Hope airport in Burbank, California when the evacuation was ordered, said an airport spokesperson.

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/ 17 December 2005

UN probe says Syria behind Hariri killing

The outgoing chief of the United Nations probe into the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri said in an interview published on Saturday he was convinced Syria was responsible for the murder. Asked by the Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat if he was ”perfectly convinced of Syria’s responsibility in the murder of Hariri,” German magistrate Detlev Mehlis said ”yes”.

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/ 17 December 2005

Senate refuses to extend Patriot Act

The White House on Friday suffered a new assault on its conduct of the war on terror when the Senate refused to renew provisions of the Patriot Act. The rebuff, which leaves the anti-terror law in limbo before crucial portions expire on December 31, was delivered amid growing outrage at reports that President George Bush secretly authorised eavesdropping on Americans inside the US without court oversight.

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/ 17 December 2005

SA lose Gibbs just before lunch

Australian paceman Brett Lee claimed the crucial wicket of Herschelle Gibbs just before lunch on Saturday as South Africa reached 128-2 on day two of the first Test. The South Africans, chasing Australia’s modest first-innings 258, were cruising until Gibbs dragged a delivery from outside off-stump onto his wicket.